Ocean Acidification, Hypoxia and Warming: Experimental Investigations into Compounded Effects of Global Change on Benthic Foraminifera

在过去100年中，平均海面温度上升，大气二氧化碳分压上升使海洋pH值下降，低氧底层沃茨的范围和强度正在增加，至少在某些区域是这样。这些持续变化的生物学影响-变暖，酸化和缺氧-已经分别进行了独立的研究，但很少有研究探讨这些压力因素之间可能的相互作用。这项研究由伍兹霍尔海洋研究所的一位科学家领导，研究了海洋酸化、缺氧和变暖对从新英格兰外大陆架收集的底栖有孔虫组合的复合影响。有孔虫是这项工作的理想生物，因为它们（1）相对较小，允许在统计学上显着的种群上进行实验;（2）具有钙质和非钙质代表;（3）相对较短，因此实验包括其生命周期的主要部分;（4）包括需氧菌和厌氧菌;（5）提供化石记录，允许跨时间进行比较。实验室培养实验将用于确定底栖有孔虫在存活和生长方面对pH值和氧气的共同变化参数的反应，并探索温度升高对这些反应的影响。研究人员将研究较高的pCO 2，较低的[O2]和较高的温度（T）对钙质和非钙质底栖有孔虫的相对影响。此外，他们将在现场检查工业化前的底栖有孔虫组合，并将该组合与工业化前（低于当前）和pCO 2水平升高的实验中产生的组合进行比较。全球变暖、海洋酸化、海洋缺氧（“死区”）及其对海洋植物群和动物群的影响引起了社会的极大关注。该项目的资金支持一名博士后研究员，两名本科生的夏季研究项目，并为大约十名其他本科生提供第一次航海经验。此外，每年至少将招募一名当地高中生进行附属的气候变化科学博览会项目。

The average sea surface temperature (SST) has increased over the last 100 years, rising atmospheric partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO2) is lowering the pH of the oceans, and the extent and intensity of low-oxygen bottom waters is growing, at least in certain regions. The biological impacts of these ongoing changes -- warming, acidification, and hypoxia -- have each been studied independently, but few studies have explored the possible interactions among these stressors. This research, led by a scientist from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, studies the compounded effects of ocean acidification, hypoxia, and warming on an assemblage of benthic foraminifera collected from the continental shelf off New England. Foraminifera are an ideal organism for this work because they (1) are relatively small, allowing experimentation on statistically significant populations; (2) have both calcareous and non-calcareous representatives; (3) are relatively short-lived so experiments include a major portion of their life cycle; (4) include aerobes and anaerobes; and (5) provide a fossil record allowing comparisons across time. Laboratory culturing experiments will be used to determine the response of benthic foraminifera, in terms of survival and growth, to co-varying parameters of pH and oxygen, and to explore the influence of increased temperature on these responses. The researchers will examine the relative effects of higher pCO2, lower [O2], and higher temperature (T) on both calcareous and non-calcareous benthic foraminifera. In addition, they will examine the pre-Industrial benthic foraminiferal assemblage at the field site, and will compare that assemblage to those produced in the experiments under pre-Industrial (lower than current day) and elevated pCO2 levels. Global warming, ocean acidification, ocean hypoxia ("dead zones"), and their effect on marine flora and fauna, are of considerable societal interest. Funding of this project supports a Post-Doctoral Investigator, summer research projects of two undergraduate students, and provides a first seagoing experience for approximately ten additional undergraduate students. Also, at least one local high school student will be recruited each year to conduct an affiliated climate-change science fair project.